Waterfront Living

Waterfront Living ¤ Fishing ¤ Canal Features ¤ Boating

Many people come to Cape Coral to live on one of the many canals. Over 400 miles of waterfront property is available, including riverfront, saltwater canal, lakes, freshwater canals, preserves, intersecting canals, basins - you name it! Not everyone can (or wants to) live right on the beach or the river. A terrific and protected way to enjoy waterfront living is to own property on a canal.

Typical Cape Coral Homes

A typical Cape Coral home is Mediterranean in style, for aesthetic and practical reasons. The same temperate climate and warm sunshine grace both south Europe and Florida, and the same tile roofs and sturdy concrete construction keep the heat out in summer and the cold out in winter.

Standard homes are three bedroom, two bath with a two car garage; larger homes with four bedrooms or a den and three car garages are becoming more and more common. Cape Coral is divided into lots. A single lot is not enough room for a home, but owners can purchase two, three or four lots and combine them for the space they want.

Pools are very common, as owners get the benefit of them year round. Frequently, a spa accompanies the pool and infinity-edge pools are very popular on waterfront properties, providing the illusion of uninterrupted water. Surrounding almost all pools are "pool cages" or screened enclosures which keep debris and bugs out, and provide protection against accidental drowning by wandering children. In fact, if your pool is not enclosed, it does need to be fenced off in some manner for that reason.

Landscaping

Keeping your Cape Coral home looking beautiful is easy. There are many lush and tropical plants and trees that thrive year-round. Many homes are landscaped and cared for professionally, especially over the summer, when grass grows quickly. Winter is drier, and most homes have an irrigation system. To preserve water, there are set times and days of the week for watering lawns; which are more than sufficient.

Sea Walls and Docks

Waterfront property in Cape Coral is not required to have a seawall, but for maintenance and ease of use, most do. Seawalls are made of concrete, and keep the lawn level, provide a place to attach a dock, and minimize affects of passing motorists. Docks are primarily made of wood, and many owners install powered lifts which allow them to store their boats out of the water, which keeps them cleaner longer, and protects from boat wakes. Lifts come in various sizes, measured by the weight they can comfortably lift. Heavier lifts will be found on direct access properties, and lighter lifts will be found in freshwater areas or interior canals. 

Deep Water, Direct, or Gulf Access?

properties are described with various adjectives, which can sound the same but have important differences in meaning.

Direct Access: there are no restrictions between your waterfront property and open water such as the Gulf of Mexico. No bridges, no locks, nothing to restrict the size of your vessel other than canal width, depth and dockage facilities. This does not mean that your can reach the Gulf of Mexico in minutes. Direct access canals can flow deep into residential areas and it may take you some time at idle speed even to reach the river.

Deep Water Access: Not all canals are deep enough for sailboats and other vessels which have high draws. A canal which can accommodate such vessels will often be labeled deep water.

Gulf Access: Waterfront property labeled Gulf access means that you can reach the Gulf of Mexico (or other open water) from the property. There may be locks, multiple bridges and/or miles of idle speed canals between you and the Gulf, however. Not all Gulf access property is created equal. Be sure to check a good waterway map to see if the property meets your needs.

Freshwater: Freshwater canals and lakes are abundant in the interior and northern Cape. Don't just assume, however, that these properties won't meet your boating needs. Often, these properties allow access to many lakes and basins, and miles and miles of waterways with excellent fishing. Some freshwater canals also have access to the boat lift, which does allow for access to open waters. There will probably be bridges in these areas, so be sure your boat's height will provide the best possible enjoyment for you.

• City of Cape Coral: Cape Coral Canal Owner's Manual

We're Here to Help

We recommend that you talk with us about what is important to you so that we can assist you in making a good decision about location. A home is an investment, even though people often do not think of it that way. If you have visited here, but never lived here, we can help guide you into a suitable purchase and eliminate the guesswork!